This is how the author of Kitab al-Luma', Sarraj (d. 456/1063) felt: 'It is necessary for the intelligent among us that they understand something of the principles, aims, and ways of those who are the people of rectitude and eminence among this group (Sufis) so that we can distinguish them (genuine Sufis) from those who just imitate them, put on their garb, and advertise themselves as Sufis.' The Kitab al-Luma is regarded as one of the oldest, if not the oldest, Sufi texts available. Its author is 'Abd Allah ibn 'Ali ibn Muhanunad ibn Yabya abu Nagr al-Sarraj al-Thai who died in 378/988. He is quoted by abu 'Abd al-Rahman al-?Sulaini, the author of Tabagat al-Sufiyyah (itself one of the oldest texts), abu al-Qasim al-Quathairi, Makhdiun 'Ali Hujwiri, Farld al Din 'Attar, al-Gazali, and scores of early as well as later writers on Sufism. He is considered to have written several books, but Kitdb,al-Luma' is the only one which has come down to us. According to Nicholson, Sarraj quotes from such well-known Sufis and scholars as abu Dawnd Sijistani, abu Said al-lilarraz, abu Said al-'Arabi, Ibrahim al-Khhawwas, Amr bin 'Utman al-Makki, Junaid, and through him abu Yazid al-Bistami. |
